Questions about lowering
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,905
Likes: 250
From: Orlando FL
Questions about lowering
Was looking at the car tonight after it's weekend clean-up. After a year at stock height, it is time to drop in some. I want to go about and inch, maybe an inch and a half. It is a daily driver and I never know where I will end up, so I don't want it too low. I am under the impression that I can do the 1-1/2 on the stock bolts, right? Also, does lowering this amout require an alignment?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 920
Likes: 2
From: Rogers, AR, USA
All C5"s don't come from the factory with the same ride height, so getting 1 1/2 inch of lowering may, or may not be possible on stock bolts.
First off, park your car in the garage at a specific point and take a good set of base measurements. Height of each wheel well, and height of the frame near each wheel. You'll find that the differences in wheel well heights won't match the difference in frame heights from side to side. This is your starting point so you can always tell what your adjustments have done.
Adjusting the bolts (longer rear, shorter front) about 3/8" will adjust the ride height about 1/2". I would suggest lowering 1/2" and driving for a week to see what you think of it, then another 1/2" and drive for a while and so on until it's where you want it or the ride is so harsh you raise it back up some. Adjustments are very simple so doing it more than once is no big deal.
First off, park your car in the garage at a specific point and take a good set of base measurements. Height of each wheel well, and height of the frame near each wheel. You'll find that the differences in wheel well heights won't match the difference in frame heights from side to side. This is your starting point so you can always tell what your adjustments have done.
Adjusting the bolts (longer rear, shorter front) about 3/8" will adjust the ride height about 1/2". I would suggest lowering 1/2" and driving for a week to see what you think of it, then another 1/2" and drive for a while and so on until it's where you want it or the ride is so harsh you raise it back up some. Adjustments are very simple so doing it more than once is no big deal.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 3,905
Likes: 250
From: Orlando FL
Thanks for the info. My car is a Z51 with Koni shocks. The ride is perfect for me, I didn't consider the change in ride. Can I do the adjustments using ramps or do the wheels need to come off? At what point does the lowering require an alignment?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 32
From: USA
You can adjust the rears by crawling under the car.
The fronts are best done by removing the wheels.
Most cars I have seen get between 3/4" and 1" of lowering on stock bolts. Ride should not be harsh at these levels.
Any lowering, even 1/4", will change the alignment settings.
Whether the change will put your alignment out of specs can't be answered. It is always a good idea to have the alignment CHECKED.
Then align if needed.
Dave
The fronts are best done by removing the wheels.
Most cars I have seen get between 3/4" and 1" of lowering on stock bolts. Ride should not be harsh at these levels.
Any lowering, even 1/4", will change the alignment settings.
Whether the change will put your alignment out of specs can't be answered. It is always a good idea to have the alignment CHECKED.
Then align if needed.
Dave
